MESA, Ariz. (AP) Throughout 2017, Ben Zobrist felt the strain of the previous two years.

The lengthened seasons after two World Series runs, the much-discussed carry-over for a franchise that waited 108 years for a championship and a balky wrist took their toll.

The result was a career-low .232 batting average and only 12 home runs and 50 RBIs, quite a dip from the previous season when he wound up as World Series MVP for the Chicago Cubs. The year before that, helped the Kansas City Royals win the crown.